Man stabbed in convenience store after road rage incident

Police in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, said Friday they have arrested a 43-year-old unemployed man on suspicion of attempted murder after he stabbed a 53-year-old man in a convenience store.

According to police, the incident occurred at around 12:50 a.m. Wednesday in a 7-Eleven store in Sagamihara’s Chuo Ward, Fuji TV reported. Police said Norihiro Tahara stabbed Yuichi Onozuka after an apparent road rage incident.

Surveillance camera footage showed the two men arguing by their cars outside the store. Tahara then chased Onozuka into the store where he stabbed him in the stomach. When Onozuka fell to the floor, Tahara stole his cell phone and fled.

Onozuka was taken to hospital where he remained in a serious condition on Friday.

Police said the two men did not know each other. Tahara was quoted by police as saying he got angry at Onozuka because he was tailgating him. He said he just wanted to complain to Onozuka but got irritated and stabbed him. But he denied any intent to kill.

Feb. 9
07:29 am JST

There are a lot of reasons to get angry when driving.... people that hog the passing lane, people that tailgate, slow drivers, and more. As I get older I do my best to not be a nuisance to others on the road... but even then you can't please everyone all the time. Some people are just angry and you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Try to quickly recognize that the other person is just straight out in a bad mood and try to distance yourself from him. I say him.... because it probably will be a guy.

Feb. 9
07:55 am JST

He could still be found guilty of attempted murder if the court decides his actions could reasonably have resulted in death, intent is not necessary. However, this is Japan, and the judge will rule based on his whims and perceived remorse.

Feb. 9
09:58 am JST

Feb. 9
10:44 am JST

Feb. 9
11:12 am JST

He said he just wanted to complain to Onozuka but got irritated and stabbed him. But he denied any intent to kill.

So, here's another nutter carrying a knife around.

Road rage is a serious problem in Japan. I would say it is more common than where I come from. I've seen it many times and been a victim of it a few times. These delusional twits all think they are nine feet tall and made of steel behind the wheel of their cars and have no qualms about using their car as a weapon to intimidate people. I had one idiot stop his car across two lanes of a major arterial road during peak hour because I blasted him with the horn for cutting me off and diving in front of me. I had to break heavily to avoid a collision. He got out of his car and started screaming at me to get out of my car. I just sat in my car laughing at him. He continued this for a couple of minutes blocking both lanes during peak hour. It wasn't until I pointed at my Go-Pro that had been recording this idiot that he got back in his car. He continued to harass me by swerving in front of me and jumping on his breaks for a few kilometers. He eventually turned off the road. I edited the video that evening and took it to the police station. His face and numberplate were clearly displayed throughout most of the video along with his threats and reckless driving. Two police officers watched the video and just looked at me with a blank stair as if to say, "So what?" They were not interested the slightest bit interested in following it up and getting this loon off the road. It was then they asked to see my foreigner registration card and licence and commenced interrogating me about my life in Japan. They were more concerned about my foreign status then the delusional idiot using his car as a weapon. TIJ!

Feb. 9
01:42 pm JST

Feb. 9
01:59 pm JST

Road rage is a real thing. The same way normal rage is a real thing. Some people just completely black out when something angers them enough to push them over the edge. During those moments they may not be aware of their actions. All the see is red.

That being said, it’s up to an individual to know themselves and not put themselves in situations that might turn you into such a state of mind. If you know you are prone to fits of rage, find alternate methods of transportation.

Feb. 9
02:20 pm JST

Feb. 9
04:27 pm JST

Stories like this refute the notion that Japan is a totally safe country, and its people are gentle and mindless sheeple afraid to voice their emotions in public. Quite the contrary, many Japanese people are absolutely not afraid to go nutters and confront others in a hostile manner in public.

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